Examining primary care physician rationale for not following geriatric choosing wisely recommendations

Abstract

Background The objective is to understand why physicians order tests or treatments in older adults contrary to published recommendations. Methods Participants: Physicians above the median for\u2009≥\u20091 measures of overuse representing 3 Choosing Wisely topics. Measurements: Participants evaluated decisions in a semi-structured interview regarding: 1) Screening men aged\u2009≥\u200976 with prostate specific antigen 2) Ordering urine studies in women\u2009≥\u200965 without symptoms 3) Overtreating adults aged\u2009≥\u200975 with insulin or oral hypoglycemic medications. Two investigators independently coded transcripts using qualitative analysis. Results Nineteen interviews were conducted across the three topics resulting in four themes. First, physicians were aware and knowledgeable of guidelines. Second, perceived patient preference towards overuse influenced physician action even when physicians felt strongly that testing was not indicated. Third, physicians overestimated benefits of a test and underemphasized potential harms. Fourth, physicians were resistant to change when patients appeared to be doing well. Conclusions Though physicians expressed awareness to avoid overuse, deference to patient preferences and the tendency to distort the chance of benefit over harm influenced decisions to order testing. Approaches for decreasing unnecessary testing must account for perceived patient preferences, make the potential harms of overtesting salient, and address clinical inertia among patients who appear to be doing well.